Monday, September 3, 2012

Review: Velveteen by Daniel Marks

To-do list:1. Haunt killer until he takes his own life.2. Head up the best Salvage Team in Purgatory to stop devastating shadowquakes as they're happening. 3. Figure out when the great Departure is, what it is and who's heading it.4. Do not show emotions other than "pissed".5. Make sure NO ONE finds out her secret!

16-year-old Velveteen Monroe was brutally murdered by a serial killer and wants nothing more than revenge against him. Unfortunately, Velvet also happens to be the leader of a record-breaking Salvage team in Purgatory which means she has a busy afterlife. Will she be able to figure out what's happening to the very seams of Purgatory and what's going on with this Departure movement which is growing and growing? She sure hopes so, because there's a new girl in serious need of her haunting her killer and she doesn't have much time life.

This was a dark one. I liked it, but it was really dark. Almost like a car accident on the side of the rode where you really want to look away, but you just can't seem to. There's mystery, there's thrilling psychological drama, and even a bit of romance. There's just SO much going on in this book. The revenge, the illegal haunting, Purgatory is ripping apart, a group is becoming more and more intense which insists the great Departure is coming, while Velvet is becoming more and more drawn to her 57th soul every moment.

I did have a few issues with the book...the main character at times was a bit immature and it grated on me along with the snottiness from another team which was just plain catty. Both of these along with the fact that I sadly figured out the entire plot early on really put a damper on my enjoying this one more. On the other hand, I can easily picture many specific students who would LOVE this book, swallow it whole and beg for more so I will certainly be adding it to MHS!

Final thoughts: If you love horror and mystery wrapped into one, this dark book is for you! And that cover!? Off the charts delicious!